Treatment Available For Hepatitis C

Early Detection May Save Lives

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NEW YORK, February 28 /PRNewswire/ -- THIS IS A MULTIVU SPECIAL
REPORT. HEPATITIS C, A BLOOD-BORNE DISEASE THAT INFECTS THE LIVER,
AFFECTS APPROXIMATELY 4 MILLION AMERICANS. SINCE PEOPLE WITH THE
DISEASE CAN FEEL HEALTHY, IT OFTEN GOES UNDETECTED. IF LEFT UNTREATED,
HEPATITIS C CAN LEAD TO CIRRHOSIS, LIVER FAILURE, AND LIVER CANCER.
LESS THAN 30 PERCENT OF ALL CASES ARE DIAGNOSED.

DR. PAUL POCKROS:

"Hepatitis C is transmitted mostly by blood-to-blood transmission.
Blood transfusion, until 1990 when we could eliminate the virus, IV
drug use, tattoos, body piercing without sterile conditioning - these
were the major risk factors for hepatitis C. It can be sexually
transmitted, but not readily."

BARBARA PETTINGELL WAS SUCCESSFULLY TREATED FOR THIS DISEASE:

"It's very important for people to be tested for hepatitis C and if
they do have it they can find out about getting treated for it."

PEOPLE SHOULD EVALUATE THEIR RISK FACTORS FOR HEPATITIS C AND SPEAK
WITH THEIR PHYSICIAN FOR MORE INFORMATION.

I'M CHRISTIANE ARBESU.

AUDIO PROVIDED BY: Roche SOURCE Roche